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Health Warning: Being Out of Work Seriously Damages People's Health

Work is an integral part of most people's lives, and as such is central to individual identity, emotional and psychological status, as well as meeting financial and occupational needs. The health benefits associated with work are clear.

As a Health or Social Care Professional working in mental health services, have you thought about the key role that you play in an individual's employment status? If not, now is the time to make employment part of your intervention.

There is strong evidence that long-term worklessness is one of the greatest risks to health. An unemployed individual will be 2-3 times more at risk of poor mental and physical health, have a 20% increased mortality rate and have a higher medical consultation, medication consumption and hospital admission rate than someone in work. *

Many projects and services exist to support both you and the people you work with to consider the pathway to employment. You could ultimately not only improve a person's financial stability but also their future health and wellbeing.

About Us

The Scottish Mental Health and Employment Network was set up in 2008 by a range of government and non-government organisations committed to improving the mental health of Scotland's population and supporting the recovery of individuals who have experienced mental health problems in relation to employment. It recognises the evidence that employment is good for health, and supports the ethos of recovery which states that everyone's recovery journey is individual. This means it views work as one of the most empowering and effective options that should be available to people in support of their recovery. The network's aim is to raise awareness of the need to increase and improve the support available for people with mental health problems who are in employment, or for those thinking about work. The network recognises that not all jobs or work environments support mental health, and it aims to encourage mentally-healthy workplaces where everyone's mental health and wellbeing is promoted. It works through sharing good practice and communicating key messages around mental health and work to a variety of audiences. The network includes individuals with personal experience of mental health problems.

Retention

Advising someone not to work can have serious long-term physical and mental health consequences.

Before giving advice to stay off work, think about the following:

• could simple adjustments be made to the person's current working arrangements or environment to accommodate their illness?;
• could intervention from Occupational Health or Vocational Rehabilitation services prevent a medical certificate being issued?; or
• is the current work environment contributing to, or indeed the cause of, poor mental health?

Remember that 'Work should be comfortable when we are well and accommodating when we are ill'. **

Return

As well as experiencing the benefits of an increase in income, individuals who move off benefits and (re)-enter work generally experience the following positive outcomes:

• a reversal of ill-effects suffered during the period of worklessness;
• an improvement to overall physical and mental wellbeing;
• wider social inclusion; and
• the recognition of having a purpose and structure to their day.

A range of policies and incentives exist to support a person on their pathway towards employment. Jobcentre Plus offer a range of programmes and incentives to encourage a person to move towards employment. For example 'A Better Off' in work calculation can highlight to a person how they would be financially better off moving from benefits to employment.

For more information on the services available, contact Jobcentre Plus on 0845 601 2001 or visit their website at www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk.

Making the people you work with aware of such support could assist in helping them along the pathway to employment and improved wellbeing.

Recovery

By supporting people towards suitable employment opportunities you are also supporting their recovery. Paid work can provide structure and meaning to life. It can also provide a chance to meet new people as well as the obvious advantage of financial reward.

Evidence suggests that most people who are not in paid employment because of their mental health issues want to work. However, sometimes people are anxious about the prospects of work, often as the result of previous negative experiences or the prospects of becoming unwell after taking up a paid position. The implication is that we need to facilitate people finding 'good work' - employment in line with people's needs and aspirations - and appropriate employment related support, to further recovery.

It is important that people receive the tailored support they need to return to work and stay in work. People need flexible and long-term support, which is often best provided when mental health and employability support is integrated. It is also important that we all play a role as mental health practitioners to educate and inform employers and the wider community about mental health, and encourage more supportive and understanding workplaces.

For more information on making work part of your intervention see: www.employabilityinscotland.com.

Contact for more copies:

workforceplus@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

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